“Britain’s mental-health crisis is a tale of unintended consequences: Rising awareness appears to be hurting the people with the most serious conditions” in The Economist, 8 Dec 2023, accessed: 10 Dec 2023

• Public Perception: A 2019 survey found over three-quarters of Britons view mental illness as an illness like any other, the highest rate among 29 surveyed countries.
• Increasing Demand for Services: There’s been a significant increase in demand for mental health services, with growing antidepressant use and more reported cases of anxiety and depression.
• Youth Mental Health: A 2023 NHS survey reported that a significant percentage of young people in England have probable mental disorders, a notable increase from 2017.
• Resource Allocation Issues: The focus on common disorders like anxiety and depression might divert resources from severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• NHS Strain and Staff Shortages: The NHS faces challenges like staff shortages and increased demand, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry.
• Rising Inequality in Access: Wealthier individuals can access private care faster, creating a two-tier system in mental health services.
• Impact of the Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected mental health, with increased rates of disorders like eating disorders among young women.